Double-figure Dons end tour on a high

MK Dons rounded off their pre-season trip in Ireland with a resounding 11-0 thrashing of Bohemians development squad in a training game on Thursday morning.

In a superb display of dominance the Dons were a class above as they put on a rampant performance in the soaring heat of Dublin.

Charlie MacDonald started the scoring for the Dons before Dean Bowditch netted twice either side of Dean Burton’s tap-in. A Shaun Williams free-kick then took the men from MK1’s lead to 5-0 before the Dons made wholesale changes.

However, the scoring did not stop there as Daniel Powell found the back of the net in the 67th minute and Jay O’Shea then chipped in with a well-struck long-range effort. Luke Chadwick registered his name on the score sheet before youngsters Mason Spence and Dele Alli netted fine strikes. Powell capped of the goals in the final minute to end a successful pre-season trip.

The Dons registered three victories during their stay in Dublin, with 19 goals and none conceded.

Speaking to mkdons.com manager Karl Robinson said:“It isn’t about the goals that you score it’s more about the performances, which have been great just as their attitude has been during this trip. Not one player has stepped out of line, they have been true professionals and we should reap the rewards from that.

“When you play football it’s about how good you feel within yourself and obviously goals do breed confidence but pre-season is more about their fitness, getting through unscathed and the overall performances. It’s been the perfect 13 days for us.

“Now we’ll head back home and prepare for Kettering and make sure our performance levels are able to reach the stage where we can compete with the teams in the League. Our eyes are firmly fixed on those games against Cheltenham and Oldham.

“The players seem to have adapted really well to the way we want to play. The thing that has pleased me as well is the performances of Brendan, Dele, Mason, Harry, Jordan and Charlie because it’s important we get these youngsters playing football matches. I think it shows they have tremendous class when they can come here and adapted to the first team and not look out of place.

“It was great to see Charlie score two against Whitehall Rangers and both Dele and Mason also got on the score sheet. They have definitely been accepted by the first team.

“I will sit down with Mick to make decisions on the trailists, they’ve done really well and scored goals. I like what I have seen in training and for most parts, what I have seen in the games too.”